Bead Work Paper Bead Door Curtain

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
Hi everyone! probably many of you know I make paper beads and have been doing that for quite a few years. I make all kinds of jewelry with them and hair sticks. I have accumulated quite a few beads as I must of been on a binge making them during past winter months so I decided to try something new. I have a fairly wide doorway that is used constantly where I've often thought of putting a french door but didn't want to block it because of so much use. I thought I'd try making a paper bead curtain to hang there. Beaded curtains were very popular in the past and I have always wanted one so... I took pictures as I created. No pattern in mind, just trying to figure out what would work with the doorway.

In the pictures I post below, I'll try to give a brief description of what I did and how it ended up. I started the project on Nov 1st and took a little over a week break when I ran out of the glass ball beads I used on the top, bottom and a couple in between the long strands. I found more of the same beads and resumed working on it finishing last evening, the 20th. A few of the pictures are blurry or just not very good but it is all I have to show the progression. I also took front and back pictures.

I first decided to make some larger longer beads (over an inch) so it would make the job easier. I also took two sample squares of upholstery material and cut them in strips to make the top rod pocket of the curtain. I hand sewed a strip of the material used under drawers or rugs so they don't slide tight to the bottom of the upholstery material. That material has little open squares I could measure from and attach to so that's what I did.

The first pictures are of the beads I had and the longer beads I made.

The next three pictures show the progression of first making a couple of strands for the full length of the doorway to the right and then going back to the middle and getting the length where we didn't have to duck under the beads.

The width of the curtain is 46 inches across with strands one inch apart. 46 strands. The length in the center is 9 1/2 inches and the far sides are 78 inches.
 

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Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
The next pictures show how I went from the center down to meet the longest strands to the right and then I measured those to do the same on the left. I used 9 1/2 inches in the center and then in progression 11, 12.5, 15, 17, 20.5, 28, 38, 51, 61, 71, 72.5, 74, 76 & 78 for lengths with a glass bead going across at 22 and 33 inches.
 

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Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
These last two pictures I took last night when I finished. I wish I would of gotten a picture today from the other side before it got dark but I was too late. Hope you like it!
 

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Buick Electra

TB2K Girls with Guns
That is TRULY BEAUTIFUL Vicki! What a talent you have.

I could never have that at my house. The cats would be attacking and playing with the hanging beads till they were all on the floor.
 

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
That's really sweet! I did not know you made paper beads.

It is beautiful! What talent and skill you have :)

Awesome, Vicki!

Thank you ALL very much.

Appreciate that StraightStreet. I am an artist and I've been trying to tell people that for some time. lol

Seriously, I'd type more but I have a dog in my lap at the moment and he's afraid of something. I didn't think I did too bad for my first try on that curtain. I think I want to do another. I scooped up some real pretty beads the last time I went out and if it's a long winter.. why not.
 

pops88

Girls with Guns Member
Beautiful, and I'm sure the pictures don't nearly do them justice. Wish I could see them in person.
 

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
That is TRULY BEAUTIFUL Vicki! What a talent you have.

I could never have that at my house. The cats would be attacking and playing with the hanging beads till they were all on the floor.

Thank you BE and I hear ya. I have crystal tear drop Christmas ornaments and years back the cats attacked them. I haven't used them since. When I made that curtain I thought about doing it straight across all the same length and then thought of not only my son and I going through it a hundred times a day but also the cat and dog. Especially the cat! My kitty is old and he doesn't seem to bother anymore.

I love them!! I love colorful things.

Me too Eens, me too. We need color in our lives. It cheers me up. Yes I still have the dog on my lap!
 

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
Beautiful, and I'm sure the pictures don't nearly do them justice. Wish I could see them in person.

You're absolutely right Pops. The light sparkles off from the glass beads and the seed beads in between the paper. The camera doesn't pick it up and I have a crappy camera. I wish you could too. Come on over! :)
 

Terriannie

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Totally AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL Vicki!!!

You know, the colors alone would bring in brightness to even the saddest heart.
 

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
I love it!! It is beautiful...and I can't imagine the HOURS and HOURS that went into that!!

Totally AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL Vicki!!!

You know, the colors alone would bring in brightness to even the saddest heart.

Thank you Yellowlabz! I worked on it for about two weeks. Yes on many hours. It took a couple of hours just figuring out what to do to get started.

Thank you too Terriannie! You would like most of what I make then because I work with bright colors pretty regularly. I used to wear black a lot and when my hair grew lighter and lighter I opted for colors.

Actually found a couple pictures for you Packy and anyone else interested of paper bead stuff and a couple of musical purses. The one picture of the necklaces and pair of earrings next to it has a pair of barefoot sandals hanging there too. I make those and lanyards with glass beads.
 

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Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
Awe, you are so sweet! Thank you Momma. We have to stay busy and when I see so much ugliness in the world, I want to create. Hopefully something beautiful to counter it. It helps.
 

Milk-maid

Girls with Guns Member
BEAUTIFUL!!! I love color--- and if you saw my house you'd know that for a fact. (I'm also an artist)

So all this you have done is right up my alley. I especially love the purses.

Vicki, have you ever thought of making waist beads (where they go around the waist all different levels and sway as you walk?)
 

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
Thank you Saro very much!

Nobody commented on my beautiful homemade bead box. lol The one on my early 1900's ironing board in the first post. The last two pictures.

I didn't realize until reading all your replies how much bright color really does cheer us up and spikes our energy. Found this...
 

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Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
BEAUTIFUL!!! I love color--- and if you saw my house you'd know that for a fact. (I'm also an artist)

So all this you have done is right up my alley. I especially love the purses.

Vicki, have you ever thought of making waist beads (where they go around the waist all different levels and sway as you walk?)

Thank you MilkMaid! Appreciate that you are an artist too! Funny how we find each other. Artists like to be around other artists and we inspire each other often times.

I have never heard of waist beads but I would love to see what they look like. I liked belts at one time. I wore one recently with a very floppy peasant top. It's been years if ya know what I mean.
 

FireDance

TB Fanatic
Fantastic work Vicki!!! I would love to have a LOT of those across my door for sound insulation and just plain beauty. Alas, the cats would have a field day!! Can’t even imagine. Love, love your work. Thank you for sharing.
 

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
Fantastic work Vicki!!! I would love to have a LOT of those across my door for sound insulation and just plain beauty. Alas, the cats would have a field day!! Can’t even imagine. Love, love your work. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you FireDance very much! A shorter beaded valance might be an option for you unless your kitties hang from the top of the door. I had an Uncle who's cat would climb the curtains and scurry across the top of the window. My Uncle thought it was cute. I shuddered at the sight. lol
 

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
Ok, did some research on waist beads and found an interesting website. There was also a shop on Etsy that offered many many sizes and colors. The colors were all solid but looked nice. All seed beads. I grabbed the picture displayed and the strands were $5 a piece. I have some lightweight chains in various colors that I always wondered what I was going to do with them. Breaking them up with colored beads interlocking would be nice for waist beads. I grabbed a picture and a chart from one website so I'll post them below with the link. It was an interesting read. Just thought I'd share.

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/waist-beads-modern-uses
 

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Milk-maid

Girls with Guns Member
I have never heard of waist beads but I would love to see what they look like.

I've seen some similar to the ones you show in the photo, but I was thinking of them hanging down similar to what you have hanging in the doorway. maybe hang long in the back and short in the front. They could hang down the hips, over the clothes, dress, pants whatever. Shake-shake-shake.

Also, if you're feeling nostalgic (hee-hee) ...you could do some colored collars similar to what RGB wears, only colorful. It'd be a take off on the old lady who the young people seem to admire right now. You could even call them RGB collars. (slave collars)
 

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member

Thank you so much O2B! Appreciate it!

I've seen some similar to the ones you show in the photo, but I was thinking of them hanging down similar to what you have hanging in the doorway. maybe hang long in the back and short in the front. They could hang down the hips, over the clothes, dress, pants whatever. Shake-shake-shake.

Also, if you're feeling nostalgic (hee-hee) ...you could do some colored collars similar to what RGB wears, only colorful. It'd be a take off on the old lady who the young people seem to admire right now. You could even call them RGB collars. (slave collars)

You are right full of good ideas Milkmaid. I think I understand what you mean in both cases. I was thinking if there was chain in between beads every so far along it would be somewhat adjustable to hook on to. It could look like a chain bracelet sort of but for the waist. Charms attached would be good for all that shaking going on. haha.. Really cute btw!

As far as collars, another clever idea. Styles come and styles go and what's old becomes new once again. The cycle of life I guess. Thanks for the inspirations!
 
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